Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-25

voice does not materially admit of the
brlliancy of PATHS, she did all the ex
ecution that it was possible for a con-
tralto to do. Her work was OF the highest
character, and the most cXacting critic, if
he be intelligent end honest, must award
her the highest praise. Scalchi's voice
is rich, flexible and powerful, and of
most exquisite quality, especially in the
middle and lower registers. She arouses
the emotions of her audience as much
by her strong dramatic force and deep
emotional phrasing as by her superb
vocalization. Her success last night was
Immediate and great. The very
finest thing of the evening (the duo be
tween Patti and ScalchD was sadly
marred by people in the audience rush
ing to the doors. But even this could
not drown the enthusiasm, and the two
great prlma donnas stepped behind the
curtain amid wild applause.
The work of the male portion OF the
company was very satisfactory, that of
Sig. Galassi perhaps proving the most
satisfactory.
The orchestration was superb and un.
der the direction of the veteran con.
ductor, Sig. Arditi, was one of the chief
pleasures of the evening.
If there is any thing left to regret after
last nights concert. it is that one could
not have heard Patti and her company of
artists in II set opera, with all the ac.
cessories of mounting, chorus, etc, given
in the opera house.
The Artists.
Hundreds saw Nine Patti for the first
time last night To hundreds it will
never be their good fortune to see her
again. 1t may be that she will sing no
more upon the stage. If this be SO, why
then, the parting was well made indeed.
Asshe appeared to the immense audience,
she was a being of amlability and beauty
upon whom the eye might linger with de-
light, and such as one might
like to recall after she had
passed forever from public gaze. AS she
was heard last evening, she was indeed,
the embodiment of human vocal perfec
ton not inaptly styled divine. She could
therefore retire from the stage leaving an
impression greater than that now cher
ished by any human being of any of the
queens of song who have preceded her
into retirement There was a sweetness
in her smile and kindliness in the
merry flashes of her eyes which won all
who came within the reach of their intlu-
ence. The applause which greeted
her was more than amply repaid
by the recalls to which S he
responded and the pleasure which it
seemed to occasion. She was flashing
with brilllants and decorations. They
nestled in her hair, on her breast. and en-
circled her wrists and fingers. The most
noticeable was massive cluster, nearly
two inches IN diameter. This was a
present from the late emperor of France.
Next to it rested another cluster of larger
stones, souvenir from the Empress
Eugenle. TO the left of this nestled a
complicated design worked ont in burn
ing stones, the gift of the queen of Bel
GUM An onyx design with concentric
dant from four ribbons of the precious
stones; Roman cross, burning
| with an intensity of refracted
light; star which crowned the
| wonderful! display, richer than ever
shown IN Omaha before, were respec-
| lively the gifts of potentatcs in other
parts of the world, each OF whom had &C
| charms. She wore two decorations, the
larger q gold medal embossed and encir
cled with diamonds the gift of the late Gar
| Alexander of Russia. This is the only
distinction of the kind worn by woman
1t was given to Bazio. and while the lat
ter was on her death bed it was trans
ferrcd to Nine. Patti. Another decora-
tion, less modest, and valuable intrinsic.
ally and extrlnsically yet greatly
| appreciated by the madame, is the gift of
| King kalakuua. Her wrists were en-
circled with diamonds and sapphires, the
combination of which seems to be afavor-
ite of the diva, because, in her operate
work she wore rings comprising these
features. In "Semiramide" she wore
necklace of squares of diamonds with
intermittent rubies, pendant from which
were strings of pearls and network of
| diamonds, every stone of which seemed
as large rs a pea. Her fingers were COW
cred with rings which flashed with her
| every movement.
Scalchi's adornments, as might be eX-
pected, paled into insigniiicance in com
parison with those of Patti. Yet. there
was an elegance in the gems she dis
played, which comported with her grace
and dignity. Facially, she lacks the
beauty of the madame, strength and ex-
ceeding determination being most promi-
ncntly outlined in her features. She is
composed in manner, has an excellent
bearing, semi.masculine in some respects,
conquer by the excellence OF her natural
gift than attain the same end by less
artistic means. She seems easily Of
tended, and when at one time a slight
annoyance was occasioned by the audi
ence, she could not forbear giving cx-
preston to ill-disguised displeasure.
When Arditi took his stand before the
audience he did so with all the modesty
peculiar to the smallest and greatest
orchestral director in the world Patti
sings for him alone, and Ardti cares
to direct for Patti alone. There is Il
potency in his name, because it has been
connected with all the trlumphs of
Italian opera, and beneath his baton
have warbled the greatest songstresses
of the stage. OF these, the greatest the
world has ever known is now his patron.
But little attention was paid to that ruddy
and glossy bald head last night, but over
that same brany and modest little dome
of thought have rolled some of the great
est waves of popular and artistic appre..
citation. Thirty years ago he conducted
opera in New York, and it is hoped that
when the same number of years shall
have elapsed, IT will be found that time
has dealt with him kindly enough 10 find